Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mary Z on June 4, 2010 at 9:37am

I loved my quattro FFM, however I have thin skin on the bridge of my nose which absolutely broke down under the pressure of the quattro (in spite of all kind of padding and remedies). I had leaks under control, but had to wear it fairly tight due to an IPAP of 22. The ComfortGel also put pressure on my nose- I had a problem with leaks and again had to wear it tight. Plus the skin on the bridge of my nose is so bad- I already have a scar- that I just can't wear these masks anymore. At reasonable IPAP they would both work fine. I preferred the quattro, I thought it was better constructed, and more comfortable.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Renee on June 4, 2010 at 1:52pm

Hello Mary ~

Thanks for your thoughts, Mary. When I started using CPAP in December, my DME was kind enough to give me 2 masks to try out - the ResMed Quattro and the Respironics FullLife. I thought I would really like the FullLife because it didn't extend to the forehead but I wasn't able to adjust to the wider mask frame and the harder material with which the mask is constructed and so I found the Quattro more comfortable and also better constructed to control leaks.

However, even more than my irritated nose, I had a problem with the Quattro leaking and I felt that the mask was somehow "loose" on my head and I couldn't adjust the straps satisfactorily. Also I noticed that, although, I was using an "XS" Quattro mask - the tag on my Headgear read "Medium" - so I emailed ResMed to ask if they had a smaller Headgear and was told that ResMed sends out ALL masks - no matter the size - "XS, S, M or L" - with a "Medium" Headgear and that, yes, they also have a "Small" Headgear. So my DME ordered the "Small" Headgear for me right away and as soon as I started using it my leak rate was immediately cut in half ! -- And the Quattro was much more comfortable to boot !

I have considered myself to be really lucky to have been able to use one of the 2 masks that my DME 1st provided me with in order to successfully adapt to CPAP when my pressure was 9. But my pressure is increasing, now at 14, and of course one is probably always on the look-out for that perfectly comfortable mask . . .

Thanks again,
Renee
____________

Mary Z said:

I loved my quattro FFM, however I have thin skin on the bridge of my nose which absolutely broke down under the pressure of the quattro (in spite of all kind of padding and remedies). I had leaks under control, but had to wear it fairly tight due to an IPAP of 22. The ComfortGel also put pressure on my nose- I had a problem with leaks and again had to wear it tight. Plus the skin on the bridge of my nose is so bad- I already have a scar- that I just can't wear these masks anymore. At reasonable IPAP they would both work fine. I preferred the quattro, I thought it was better constructed, and more comfortable.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by catfish44 on June 8, 2010 at 1:26pm

the Quattro a vastly superior mask to the comfort gel full face, primarily regarding mask leaks. i have been a sleep professional since 2001 and in home care from 1985 to 2001. i have been a CPAP patient for 18 years. i have tried every mask. still, the Quattro certainly can cause problems on the bridge of the nose. a less well known alternative is the respironics TOTAL FACE MASK. does not touch the bridge of the nose nor does it have a forehead support. it is a full face mask.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Renee on June 10, 2010 at 11:57am

Hello catfish44 ~

Thanks for your reply. I have considered myself to be really lucky to have been able to get accustomed to using CPAP right off the bat with the Quattro when my pressure was 9. But as my pressure is increasing, now at 14, I am having to tighten the mask more so and it is not as comfortable, is harder to control leaks and I now have the unwelcome facial pressure marks. And, if I have to increase the pressure further, the leakage may necessitate that I choose another mask. So I appreciate your suggestion about the Full Face mask. I also saw on another post that you suggested the Fit Life mask. I would NOT have thought I would have ever considered any such large mask - but, now, hmm . . .

In the other post you mentioned that you use the Fit Life mask and I am wondering something - because I can't tell from the pix on Resperonics website . . . I am a side-sleeper by nature and my sleep doctor has also advised that I NOT sleep on my back at all. Can you sleep on your side -- can you lay your head in any manner onto, or over the side, of a pillow?

Thanks again for your thoughts and suggestions.

Best,
Renee


catfish44 said:

the Quattro a vastly superior mask to the comfort gel full face, primarily regarding mask leaks. i have been a sleep professional since 2001 and in home care from 1985 to 2001. i have been a CPAP patient for 18 years. i have tried every mask. still, the Quattro certainly can cause problems on the bridge of the nose. a less well known alternative is the respironics TOTAL FACE MASK. does not touch the bridge of the nose nor does it have a forehead support. it is a full face mask.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Renee on June 10, 2010 at 12:14pm

Hello Mary ~

Hope you are well. Also, I wanted to mention that it was really kind of your to have offered your thoughts on the masks that I asked about even though they are not the masks that you are using. And in thinking about you, I think I recall that you use the Resperonics Fit Life mask. If I am correct about that, I'd like to ask you something . . .

The Quattro worked well for me when my pressure started out at 9 but as my pressure is increasing, now at 14, I am having to tighten the mask more so and it is not as comfortable, is harder to control leaks and I now have the unwelcome facial pressure marks. And, if I have to increase the pressure further, the leakage may necessitate that I choose another mask.

And so I am considering the Fit Life mask. However, I am a side-sleeper by nature and my sleep doctor has also advised that I NOT sleep on my back at all. So, I am wondering – can you sleep on your side with the Fit Life -- can you lay your head in any manner onto, or over the side, of a pillow?

Thanks again for your thoughts and all your support on SG.

Best,
Renee
__________________________________________________




Mary Z said:

I loved my quattro FFM, however I have thin skin on the bridge of my nose which absolutely broke down under the pressure of the quattro (in spite of all kind of padding and remedies). I had leaks under control, but had to wear it fairly tight due to an IPAP of 22. The ComfortGel also put pressure on my nose- I had a problem with leaks and again had to wear it tight. Plus the skin on the bridge of my nose is so bad- I already have a scar- that I just can't wear these masks anymore. At reasonable IPAP they would both work fine. I preferred the quattro, I thought it was better constructed, and more comfortable.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by RockRpsgt on June 10, 2010 at 1:03pm

There is a big weight difference between the 2 masks. The Respironics makes me feel like I have a rock on my face.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Renee on June 10, 2010 at 3:47pm

Hey there Rock ~

I appreciate the mention - the weight sure would make a difference. Always good to hear your opinion.

Best,
Renee
______________________________________________________________________________________

Rock Hinkle said:

There is a big weight difference between the 2 masks. The Respironics makes me feel like I have a rock on my face.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Susan Anderson on June 13, 2010 at 7:09pm

I have been using the ResMed Quattro since I started CPAP about 3 months ago. During that time I have also trialled the Liberty and the Respironics ComfortGel Full Face mask and I have bought all three but it is the Quattro that I use almost all the time. I like the softness of the ComfortGel but it puts incredible pressure on my nose - in a different spot to the Quattro (a bit further down). I can keep my nose Ok with the Quattro bu using a bandaid but the ComfortGel is much tougher on my nose. I would love to tbe able to use the Liberty all the time but the inside of my nostrils gets sore. My prssure is 18.Hope this helps in some way.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mary Z on June 14, 2010 at 10:33am

Renee, you have a good memory! I find the FitLife small allows me to sleep on my side, but I have to be careful and adjust the mask again sometimes during the night. It's definitely not a put it on, forget about it and sleep in any different position kind of mask. Also it does leave marks down the side of my face which last a while. But as I said, the leakage is small, >.22 and 0.0 some nights. Also, my numbers, AHI and AI are slowly improving with this mask, maybe because of the consistant decrease in leakage. I don't use any special pillow with cutouts, though that might help.

. However, I am a side-sleeper by nature and my sleep doctor has also advised that I NOT sleep on my back at all. So, I am wondering – can you sleep on your side with the Fit Life -- can you lay your head in any manner onto, or over the side, of a pillow

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Renee on June 17, 2010 at 3:14pm

Hello Susan ~

Thanks for all the valuable info you’ve already figured out – just 3 months into CPAP treatment – good for you ! I, too, would like to be able to use a nasal mask but because of a higher pressure and mouth breathing, alas, I was advised to wear a full face mask from the beginning and once I got used to the idea that I was going to be using a face mask that was larger than a “quarter”, I came to terms with it. And now I’m actually glad I am wearing a full face mask so that if get a cold, etc. I will likely be more comfortable with a full face mask that I would be with a nasal mask and I won’t have to make the adjustment then. I did find that I was REALLY lucky in that the1st mask I tried, the Quattro, worked out for me.

Before starting xPAP, my sleep doctor had told me after my sleep titration that every time the tech adjusted the pressure that I woke up and so they could not determine a pressure for me and that the only pressure I slept with for only a little while was 9 and so, although my OSA would not be controlled at 9, I should start there and, if I could adjust to xPAP – which he didn’t think I would – then the pressure would be raised but that I shouldn’t get my hopes up for my being able to tolerate xPAP treatment.

So, I was particularly glad that the Quattro worked out for me ! Although, I am sensitive to the material that the masks are constructed with and so I had to find liners to deal with that problem, and I also had to find a forehead pad to prevent headaches; but, I would have had to find those solutions with any mask.

I set out doggedly determined and then some to adjust to xPAP – and I have been successful ! And I have been raising my pressure – this week to 15. It may go up to 18 or so – don’t know how high yet. And because I have been getting more leakage, I was considering other masks and so I considered the ComfortGel. I have heard a lot of similar comments to what you mentioned regarding the ComfortGel and it’s good to have that chorus of confirmation. It surely makes it a lot easier to hear common sense experience and recommendations from people in the trenches than to go out and try an assortment of masks. And I have decided on the Quattro over the ComfortGel.

And I just made a discovery that is FANTASTIC ! When my pressure was at 9, I had no problem with leaks but, now my pressure is increasing and once the pressure got up to 14, I began to have a leak problem and the mask was uncomfortable as I tightened the straps to control the leaks, which also caused the unwelcome facial pressure marks. And this week when I raised the pressure to 15, my leak rate went from under .10 to .76, so I fussed around with my mask over the last couple of nights.

In my case, my leak is primarily near the high part of my cheek bone on the left side of my face and in fussin' with my mask this week, I discovered that the Quattro seems designed for the structure of one's face. In my case, I have been wearing my mask, as I think most people do, centered on my face -- BUT - I surprisingly found out - if I wear my mask - just a "smiggen" to the right - the Quattro seems to avoid "sitting up" on my facial bone structure - which was what was causing the leakage - not only in the main leakage area, but pretty much everywhere ! In 3 nights of fussin', I went from a leak of .76 to .00. And I also LOOSENED the mask back to where it was at the pressure of 9 - or looser ! All of this surprised me because I don't have any pronounced bone structure. I wouldn't have even thought about bone structure if I hadn't been fussin' with my mask and "felt" my cheek bones and then got my idea. I wondered if the mask would stay in place that little smiggen to the right (and I also moved the mask up a smiggen) - and, yes, it seem quite content to rest in its new place.

And so now – no leaks, the mask isn’t tight and uncomfortable, no more unwelcome facial pressure marks and no sore nose – and my AI & HI both decreased ! Of course, it’s just been a few nights and I don’t know what will happen as my pressure continues to increase, maybe up to about 18 or so – but, here’s hopin’ !

Thanks again for your help and I hope my thought will maybe help you too . . .

Best,
Renee
______________________________________________________________

Susan Anderson said:

I have been using the ResMed Quattro since I started CPAP about 3 months ago. During that time I have also trialled the Liberty and the Respironics ComfortGel Full Face mask and I have bought all three but it is the Quattro that I use almost all the time. I like the softness of the ComfortGel but it puts incredible pressure on my nose - in a different spot to the Quattro (a bit further down). I can keep my nose Ok with the Quattro bu using a bandaid but the ComfortGel is much tougher on my nose. I would love to tbe able to use the Liberty all the time but the inside of my nostrils gets sore. My prssure is 18.Hope this helps in some way.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Renee on June 17, 2010 at 3:20pm

Hello Mary ~

Thank you Mary for your thoughts on the FitLife. If I do need to try a mask other than the Quattro as my pressure increases further, it will be the FitLife. I read another post you wrote recently and as I am used to setting my head over the side of pillow, I hope I would be able to find a way to sleep thru the night if the FitLife turns out to the mask for me.

However, I have some VERY GOOD NEWS . . . I have included this in another post and you may see it there – but, I wanted to also let you know about it directly.

When my pressure was at 9, I had no problem with leaks but, now my pressure is increasing and once the pressure got up to 14, I began to have a leak problem and the mask was uncomfortable as I tightened the straps to control the leaks, which also caused the unwelcome facial pressure marks. And this week when I raised the pressure to 15, my leak rate went from under .10 to .76, so I fussed around with my mask over the last couple of nights.

In my case, my leak is primarily near the high part of my cheek bone on the left side of my face and in fussin' with my mask this week, I discovered that the Quattro seems designed for the structure of one's face. In my case, I have been wearing my mask, as I think most people do, centered on my face -- BUT - I surprisingly found out - if I wear my mask - just a "smiggen" to the right - the Quattro seems to avoid "sitting up" on my facial bone structure - which was what was causing the leakage - not only in the main leakage area, but pretty much everywhere ! In 3 nights of fussin', I went from a leak of .76 to .00. And I also LOOSENED the mask back to where it was at the pressure of 9 - or looser ! All of this surprised me because I don't have any pronounced bone structure. I wouldn't have even thought about bone structure if I hadn't been fussin' with my mask and "felt" my cheek bones and then got my idea. I wondered if the mask would stay in place that little smiggen to the right (and I also moved the mask up a smiggen) - and, yes, it seem quite content to rest in its new place.

And so now – no leaks, the mask isn’t tight and uncomfortable, no more unwelcome facial pressure marks and no sore nose – and my AI & HI both decreased ! Of course, it’s just been a few nights and I don’t know what will happen as my pressure continues to increase, maybe up to about 18 or so – but, here’s hopin’ !

So, how’s about that ?!? Pretty Amazing – wouldn’t you say ? YEP ! I wanted to pass that good news along to you.

And, again, thank you for all your thoughtful and supportive responses.

Best,
Renee
__________________________________________________________

Mary Z said:

Renee, you have a good memory! I find the FitLife small allows me to sleep on my side, but I have to be careful and adjust the mask again sometimes during the night. It's definitely not a put it on, forget about it and sleep in any different position kind of mask. Also it does leave marks down the side of my face which last a while. But as I said, the leakage is small, >.22 and 0.0 some nights. Also, my numbers, AHI and AI are slowly improving with this mask, maybe because of the consistant decrease in leakage. I don't use any special pillow with cutouts, though that might help.

. However, I am a side-sleeper by nature and my sleep doctor has also advised that I NOT sleep on my back at all. So, I am wondering – can you sleep on your side with the Fit Life -- can you lay your head in any manner onto, or over the side, of a pillow

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mary Z on June 17, 2010 at 5:52pm

Thanks for the tips about the quattro, Renee. I may give it another try. I keep it as a spare mask.
Mary Z.

• ▶ Reply

▶ Reply to Discussion

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next ›
• Page